Machine fok



J. S WENTWORTH.

MACHINE FOR SOIL TILLAGE.

APPLICATION EILED MAY 21.19II.

1,319,936. Patented Oct. 28,1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IEIY'EIN'T'EH A? T? E I. S. WENTWORTH.

MACHtNE FOR 801i TILLAGE.

APPUCATIDN FILED IAY 2|. m1.

1,319,936. Patented 02m 28,1919.

3 SHEETSSHET 2.

AT T? 5 J. 5. wamwom n.

MACHINE FOR SOIL TILLAGE.

APPLICATION FILED mum. I917 1,319,936. Patented 001;. 28, 1919.

Invsn'rafi embody my invention;

UNITED STATES.PAEIiENTZ'QEFICE;

men: s. wmw ion; orjqmcmmm; 'omo. MACHINE FOR 'SOIL T'IL'LKG E.

Application filed May 21. 1917:.

To all whom it may concern.

Be. it knon'n that Jesse S. \VENT\\"UR-'Iill, a citizen of the United States, 11 resident of (iiu-in'l'iuti, in tho county of Hamilton and Shite of Ohio. have invented new and useful llufrrovcmcnts in Machines for slriil l illage. of Whiclrthc following is a specification.

My invention relates to illlPlOVtlTltll'll-S in mat-hint: for soil tillage.

The principal ohjcct of this invention is the provinion of a machine which will coniplctcl v till the soil and plncc it in condition for phintingr.

.\nothr-r ohject of this invention is the provision of n nmchinc which will remove it layer of mil. vegetation and other nulterinl fr m the ground. di inlcgrntc this nmtcrinl and sopnrute the liner particles therefrom, deposit the larger particles. vegetation and other mntcrinl in the trench or ditch formed v the rcniovnl of Haiti material and then deposit the tincr particles on top to form n loos'cmulch.

\"nrions other objects and purposes of this invention will he apparent from a consideration of the following specification.

To the accomplishment .of the foregoing and such other objects as may hereinafter nppcnr, my invention consists in the combination. construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and then sought to he defined in the ap 'iended laims. refercncc heing had to the ncconipanyin drawings forming a part hereof. :in which SlltDYS merely for the purpose of illustrative. disclosures. a preferred embodiment of my inventiom-it being understood that. various changes inay he n'iai'le'in practiee'within the scope. of the claims without digressing from my inventive idea).

Iif the drawings,

Figure 1 represents a Vertical longitudinal section through a machine constructed to Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Fig. 1, the. fore-part of the ma.- chine inolud'ing-the motor being removed to disclose the construction of the digging oylinder and coi'ipernting parts;

Fig. 3 is a section through cylinder;

Fig. 4; represents a side elevation of the rear portion of the machine with an auxiliary roller and raking device mounted thereon;

the digging Spec-lficntion of Letters Patent.

ent on Oct. 28. 1 9 1.9.

Serial No, 1169.55;

1333.316wueprcsunto a; in t le tilorntion fQlf'i tho foriiraml portionof! ithe Joint-lune M t lflllw lilklllift'filli llflfi or attwihi nnfl mounteilmin flfU'IltlillQE-Pflfhm H nix! i Referring now,- toithe drnnzi nnhn lirrcin l Show a n-cfcrred.form of mt 'hnnism. the. nunu-rnl l ll'cai rnutos thc 'llllllll frnnnof, the machine which i.\ formed 0 as to upport and llUHHt the various parts. To lhc front portion of this main frame i. pivotnllv con ncctcd the front or auxiliary home 3. nhiciisupported lrv the i l fUHl g unting! rolleo the Juuin fl'ulnc heing-.upp ricd and driv n luv the traction roller l. I provide the \Yj-H'lll gear arrangement :3 operated by the handle member (3 for controlling the rollers to steer the. machine desired. 1 :ll.-'o pro ride the shaft 7 operated by handle 8 having the screw threads 9 working in the stutioniu} nut 10 for the purpom of adiustinp the angular relation hetween the main friunc and the front or auxiliary frame. t-hia being for the purpose of regulating the-depth to which the 'digging: and cutting cylinder operates in the top portion of the Ffiil.

I also provide on the main frame a =uitnhle motor 11, from which the \ttl'llTllS parts are driven. The truction rollcr li driven l1 v operative connection 12' from the gears 13 which urn controlled suitably so as to vary the speed and direction of movement of the machine. as is Well understood. Any suitnhle means for this purpose may banned.

in the. front portion of the machine. if provide the cylinder or roller 14 which is driven by means of operating connection 15 from the motor in it direction opposite. to the direction of movement of the nicohunisni as :1 whole. This cylinder is mount-ed on the. stationary stud shafts l6 :ind has its outer surface provided with the plurality of apertures or slots 17 through which are, projected suitable lines; or digging and .cut-, ting lllflllllllelfl'isf. preferably of the form substantially 1:8 Eshown in the drawing These digging: and cutting members .18 are provided with t-lie' 'irponturcd cor portiont. 19 which aresecna'red to-the stationery shaft, 20, this shaft-hiring;.connectediyto theostui-l. shaft-s 16h means Willie-11331831. These= cutting and digging members are pivot-ally mid-till are mounted, preferably srocket wheels 31 and mounted within the cylinder b means of; links 22 which are -piv0tedto' tie members 18 at 23 and to the inside of a cylinder as at 24. It is seen that the shaft 20 to which these digging and cutting members are loosely connected has an eccentricrelation with the stud shafts 16 and consequently with the cylinder as a whole, and this eccentric relation may be varied by means of an ad'ustment lever 25 connected to the stud shafts 16. Therefore, due to this eocentric positioning of shaft 20 and links 23,

when the cylinder is rotated, the di ging and cutting members 18 will be force outwardly beyond said a ertures 17 in the cylinder and then witht rawn, this reciprocation taking place during one rotation of the cylinder. Obviously, the projection of these digging and cutting members takes place along or adjacent to the bottom line.

of the trench, so that all the soil and vegetation thereabove Will be dug and lifted by means of said members over the top of the cylinder and deposited on a combined sieve and conveyor which will presently be described. Of course it is understood that the frame and housing is so shaped about these members as to permit their proper operation and also to assist in the retention of the soil and vegetation or other material on the cylinder and cutting and diggin members until it is discharged onto the sieve and conveyer member or removed by means of the apron 26. This apron has slots 27 in its upper edge to permit the assage of the digging and cutting meni- Eers 18 and also similar slots in its lower edge to permit its proper cooperation with the sieve and conveyer member. It is also to be understood that the retraction of the digging and cutting members ithin the cylinder acts to automatically strip any soil or other material which may adhere thereto so that the cylinder is cleaned auto matically and all of the material discharged onto the sieve and conveyer member.

This sieve and conveyor men'iber is designated generally by the reference character 29 and, as shown, is located to the rear of the cylinder 14, extendin rearwardly and upwardly to certain discharge chutes and conveyers which Will be described hereinafter. This combined sieve and conveyor comprises the plurality of transversely extending shafts 30 on which shafts in alternation, disk members 32, he sprocket wheels and disk members on alternate shafts being arranged in staggered relation. Suitable chains 33 are con- Imcted to said sprocket members, all being driven from the motor by means of a chain and sprocket. connection 34. As shown, the disks are preferably triangular in shape, having their ends slightly curved these parts;

or rqnnded Th? ifunctio o f-t his part of t e mechanism s td seem-aw the larger particles of vegetation and soil from the smaller particles, as well as to disintegrate the particles of material to some extent, due to the pounding action of the disks and chains. The smaller particles pass through this member while the larger particles including the vegetation, are conveyed u'pwardly to the discharge chutes and conve ers.

hese include the horizontally, extending troughs 35 having the screw conveyers 36 therein. These troughs extend'to the ed e of the machine and communicate with tile downwardly extending chutes 37, which in turn communicate with the horizontally (.XlQl'lFllIlg troughs 38 in which is ositioned another screw conveyer 39. hese last mentioned troughs have'a discharge opening positioned innnediately in front of the roller 4 so that the larger particles of soil, vegetation au'l other material which do not pas:- thimss; the sieve member .3 are placed at the bottom of the ditch or trench formed oy the cylinder 14 and are compressed by the action of the roller 4.

in connection with these elements of my construction I also provide an auxiliary digging and conveying member 40 which is p0: sitioned to the rear of the cylinder 14 and beneath the combined sieve and conveyer member 29, being somewhat larger than said member, and serving to remove a portion of the soil in the bottom of the ditch or trench made by the digging and cuttin cylinder 14 and to convey said soil together with the soil and other material which has passed through the sieve and conveyor member 29. up to a suitable screening mechanism for further separating. This digging and conveying mechanism includes the endless chains or belts 41 driven by means of sprockets 42 and havin mounted thereon, the series of digging anc conveying buckets or receptacles 43, these being merely members with flat bottoms and having the outwardly extending end flange 44 for the purpose of digging and retaining material discharged thereon. These buckets or recep. tacles are pivotally connected to said endless chain 41 at a point about two'fifths of the distance from their unflanged ends, as at 45, so that as they pass around the lower sprocket they will be thrown outwardly to dig into and remove a portion of the soil in the bottom of the reviously formed ditch or trench, and will lift and convey said soil upwardly together with the material Which has passed through the. sieve as above described. until :itreaches the up per turn. when. due to the pivotal connection with the chains. said buckets or rceeptaclcs-u'ill be thrown outwardly discharg mgthe material therein onto the. chut 46.

pro pe r soil, as shown in Fi from whence it asses by gravity to the vibrating screen 4 This screen is driven by any suitable means and serves to separate the finer particles of soil and other material. The larger particles are passed off the screen and deposited in a ditch or trench in the rear of the roller 4, the finer particles being deposited on top thereof, the uard 4:8 insuring the proper discharge of t is material.

It is to be understood that while I have shown only one vibrating screen, that a, number may be used if desired, the purpose being to deposit the soil and; other material in varying degrees of fineness into the trench which has been made by the cutting and digging cylinder and the digging conveyer, so that the top portion of the treated soil is in condition for immediate planting after it has been subjected to the action of this machine.

Attention is directed to theqfact that I also contemplate the use of di ging and cutting members 50 similar to t ose shown in cylinder 14, in connection with the roller 4, as indicated in dotted lines, this being for the purpose of lntermixiiig and tamping the vegetation and other material, and also to give proper traction to the roller 4 in driving the machine. These members 50 are operated in substantially the same way as members 18. This same provision may be made in connection with rollers 3 as indicated in dotted lines at 51.

After the fine particles of material have been deposited, I may rake and com ress the s. 4 and 5 of t e drawing, wherein 52 designates the rake and 53 the roller mounted to travel in the rear thereof.

As it may be advisable under certain conditions to rake the vegetation and other material into proper osition for eifective operation of the cutting and digging memhers, I may use a raking device in front of the machine, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing, wherein 54 designates the rake.

It will be understood that the gear constructions on the main driving shaft are such as to permit the proper operation of the various parts of this device in the direction specified.

What I claim is 2- 1. A mechanism of the character .described, including in combination, means for removing a layer of soil, Vegetation or other material, means for disintegrating the same, means for depositing the larger particles (it the soil. vegetation and other material in the bottom of the trench or ditch formed by the removal of said layer, means for compressing the larger particles of soil. vegetation and other material after being deposited in said ditch or trench and means for separating the finer particles of the material into different grades and depositing said grades in said ditch or trench with the finest grade of material on top.

2. A mechanism of the character described, including in combination, means for removing a layer of soil, vegetation or other material, means for disintegrating and separating the same, means for removing a portion of the soil from the bottom of said ditch or trench, means for depositing the lar er particles of the soil, vegetation and ot icr material in the bottom of the trench or ditch formed by the removal of said layer, means for separatin the finer particles and said last mentione soil into grades of varying fineness and de siting the said soil and material in said ditch or trench with the finest grade of material on top in loose mulch.

3. A mechanism of the character described including in combination, a portable supporting means, a rotatable cylinder mounted therein and having a plurality of projectable and retractable cutting and dig ging members adapted to remove a layer of soil, vegetation and other material. means for rotating said cylinder and projecting and retracting said cut-ting and digging members, a combined sieve and conveyor member so positioned as to receive the material from said cutting and digging cylinder and adapted to disintegrate said material and to separate the finer articles therefrom, a conveying means to w larger particles of soil, vegetation and other material are delivered from said combined sieve and conveyer member and deposited in the bottom of the trench formed by the action of said cutting and digging cylinder, means for separating the finer particles into grades of different fineness and depositing the same in said ditch or trench on top of the larger particles previously deposited.

.4. A mechanism of the character dc scribed including in combination, a portable supporting means, a rotatable cylinder mounted therein and having a plurality of projectable and retractable cutting and digging members adapted to remove a layer of soil, vegetation and other ii'iaterial, means for rotating said cylinder and projecting and retracting said cutting and digging members, a combined sieve and conveyor member positioned so as to receive the material from said cutting and digging cylinder and adapted to disintegrate said material and to separate the finer particles therefrom, a conveying means to which the larger particles of soil, vegetation and other material are delivered from said combined sieve am conveyer member and deposited in the bottom of the trench formed by the action of said cutting and digging cylinder, an nuxib iary digging means adapted to remove a portion of the soil from the bottom of the ich the ditch or trench before said larger particles are rede 'msited therein, said auxiliary diggin means bcin also adopted to receive t c finer partic cs from said sieve and conveyer member, separating means adapted to receive said finer particles and said last mentioned soil and divide it into orades of different fineness. and means for r'le 'iositing the same in said ditch or trench on top of the finer particles with the finest grade of material on top.

5. A mechanism of the character described including in combination, a portable supporting means. a rotatable cylinder mounted therein and haviniq a plurality of projectable and retractab c cutting and digging members adapted to remove a layer of soil, vegetation not other material. means for rotating said cylinder and -proiectin; and retracting said cutting and digginp members. a combined sieve and conveyor member 50 positioned as to receive the material from said cutting and dieqzzin; cylindcr and adapted to disintegrate said material and to separate the finer particles therefrom. a conveying means to which the larger particles of soil. vcgctation and other material are delivered from said (unlbincd sieve and conveycr member and deposited in the bottom of the trench formed by the action of said cutting and digging cylinder. means for sermratino the finer particles into grades of difl'erent fineness and clepositing the same in said ditch or trench on top of the larger particles previously deposited. said combined sieve and conveyer member includin a plurality of transversely extending shafts having sprocket wheels and disintegrating disks mounted thereon in alternation aml chains meshing with said sprocket Wheels.

(3. A. mechanism of the character de scribed. including a combination. a portable supporting means, a rotatable mounted therein and having a plurality of projecting and retracting cutting and digging members adapted to remove. a layer of soil, vegetation and 0 er material, means for rotating said eylind and projecting and retracting said cutting and digging mem bers, a combined sieve and conveyer member positioned so as to receive the material from the cutting and digging cylinder and adapted to disintegrate said material and to separate the finer particles thcrcfron'i. a conveying means to which the larger particles of soil. vegetation and other material are delivered -from said combined sieve and convcycr member and deposited in the bottom of the trench formed by the action of said cutting! and digging cylinder. an auxiliarv digging means adapted torcmovc a portion of the soil from the bottom of the ditch or trcnch before. said larger particles are redeposited cvlimlcr therein, said auxiliary digging means being also adapted to receive the finer articles from sai sieve and conveyor mem er, separating means adapted to receive said fincr particles and said last mentioned soil and divide it into grades of different fineness and means for depositin the same in said ditch or trench on top 0 the finer particles with the finest t rade of malcrial on top. said auxiliary digging member beine in the form of an endless convorer including endless chains. having digging mcmbcrs cxtcnding transversely thereof provided with out \vardl'y extcudin; cdgc flanges. said menibcl's being pivotally connectcd to said chains by pivots so thattbcy will cng'agc the soil and also discharge the. soil therefrom.

7. A mechanism of the character do scribed, includin, in comliimition. a port able support. a rotatable digging and cutting mom'bcr mounted tlicrcin having prir jcctablc and rttracta'ble digging and cutting means adapted to remove a layer of soil, vcgctation or nllur material. an auxiliary digging member located to thc rear of said rotatable digging and cntting'mcmbcr and adaptcd to remove a p rtion o l' the oil from the bottom of the ditch or trench formed by said first mentioned digging and cutting ntel'nbcr. a combined sieve and conveyor member located above said auxiliary cutting member and. adapted to receive the ma erial from said first mentioned digging and cuttin member, and to disintegrate and separate the same. conveying the larger particles of soil, vegetation or other material, and permitting the finer particles to pass on. through said auxiliary digging and cutting member. conveying means adapted to receive material from the upper end of said com-- bined sieve and conveyer and to discharge the same in the bottom of said ditch and trench. a roller mounted so as to i-oinpre-n said rcdcpositcd material, separating mcchanisnl ada .itcd to receive the material from said auxiliary cutting and digging member and discharge the same into said ditch or trench on top of the larger particles previously deposited and compressed.

S. A mechanism of the character de scribed including in combinatiom-a portable support, a rotatable digging and cutting member mounted therein having pro jectable and retractable digging and cutting means adapted to remove a layer of soil, vegetation or other material. an auxiliary digging member located to the rear of said rotatable'digrging and cutting member and adapted to remove a portion of the soil from the bottom of the ditch or trench formed by said first mentioned digging and cutting member, a combined sieve and conveyor member located-above said auxiliary cutting member and adapted to receive the material from said first mentioned digging and cutting member, and to disintegrate and separate the same, conveying the larger particles of soil vegetation or other ma-' terial, and permitting the finer particles to pass on to the said auxiliary diggl and cutting member, conveying means a a ted to receive material from the upper en of said combined sieve and conveyer and discharge the same in the bottom of said ditch or trench, a roller mounted so as to compress said redeposited material, separating mechanism adapted to receive the material from said auxiliary cutting and digging member and discharge the same into said ditch or trench on top of the larger particles previously deposited and com ressed and means for adjusting the depti to which said cutting and digging menibers operate.

9. A mechanism of the character described includin in combination, a portable supporting rame having a traction and compression roller in the rear, guiding rollers in the front and a digging and cutting cylinder in the forward portion thereof, said digging and cuttlng cylinder having means adapted to remove the top portion of thesoil, a combined sieve and conveyer member adapted to receive the material from said digging and cutting cylinder, said combined sieve and conveyer member including a plurality of transversely extending shafts having disks and sprockets arranged thereon in alternation, and chains running over said sprockets, means to drive one of said transverselv extending shafts, the finer particles of the material passing through said comJbined sieve and conveyor member and the larger particles being deposited in front of said traction and compression roller, separatln means for separation of the finer partic es and means for conveying said finer particles to said separating means.

10. A mechanism of the character vdescribed including in combination, a porta'ble supporting means, havin a fraction and compression roller mounted at the rear, guiding rollers at the front and a diggin and cutting cylinder having means adapte to remove a portion of the soil, a combined sieve and conveyor member ada ted to receive the material from said digging and cuttin cylinder and to separate the finer partic es therefrom, discharging mechanism associated with; said combined sieve and conveyer member to receive the larger particles of soil, vegetation and other material and depositing the same into the ditch or trench formed 'by the removal of said layer of material in front of the compression and traction roller, an auxiliary digging means located beneath said combined sieve and conveyer and adapted to remove a portion of the soil from the bottom of said ditch or trench after the operation of the cutting and digging cylinder and also to receive the finer particles assed through said combined sieve and conveyer member and to convey said material upwardly, said auxiliary digging means including endless chains and 'di ging members pivotally connected to saic? chains at oints nearer one edge than the other an having an outwardly extending flange, sprockets for drivin'g said chains, said digging members being adapted to be thrown out of said pivotal connection to dig a portion of the soil at their lower ends and to discharge the material conveyed therein at their upper ends, and separating mechanism for receiving the material from said auxiliary digging means.

JESSE S. WENTWORTH. 

